Hydration Practice: Hot Water Morning Ritual

Do you ever get cracked heels and dry skin? Do you feel like your digestion is sluggish and needs a little extra help waking up? If so, let me tell you about what happened when I moved to an arid climate and discovered the many benefits of drinking hot water every morning and how it became the answer to my skin’s cry for help.

I am a native Texan. When you think of Texas, you might imagine tumbleweeds and dusty saloons, but the climate is actually quite humid. When I moved to the high altitude desert of Denver, I was totally unprepared for the affect it would have on my skin. During my first month in Denver, my knuckles became so dry that they cracked until they bled. I had never experienced this level of dryness before. Reluctantly, I turned to oils and moisturizers to compete with the dryness, and for a few years I tired different hydration practices in order to moisturize.

“Drink plenty of water”, they say.

Yea yea… doin’ it, and alas… my attempts were not very successful. My once-upon-a-time soft smooth feet were now cracked at the heels so deep that it felt like they were beyond repair. At least my hands weren’t bleeding anymore.

Several teachers of mine spoke to me about the power of drinking hot water. Not warm water, but hot water, and on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. 

They suggesting drinking a piping hot glass of good water, upwards to 1 to 2 quarts per morning – and then yes, coffee or tea!  

With nothing to lose, I decided to bring this technique into my morning practice.  At first, it didn’t make sense to me why I was doing it, other than many unrelated people for whom I held a deep respect for had recommended it.

The first few days were the worst. I almost felt sick, as if sludge was being shifted and moving throughout my system. It felt like it was coming out of my skin. It made me a little dizzy and nauseated. The discomfort did not last long however, and I would move throughout the day feeling a little more clear and focused. It was like the hot water was cleaning me, warming the inside and creating more flow. It makes sense really. As one of my teachers pointed out: when we want to clean something, we use hot water. Theres no sense in washing the dishes with cold water. 

Much like cold therapy, this practice can be quite uncomfortable to begin, but after consistent engagement, it gets easier and the benefits become clear. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see how the quality of my skin changed, seemingly overnight. After a few months of being consistent with the practice my heels were completely back to smooth and my skin glowing with a much greater vibrancy.

Now, I use far less moisturizer and no longer need to carry a chapstick with me everywhere I go. I still have much to explore with this practice and look forward to what I discover next! 

Give hot water in the morning a try and see what it does for you!

Happy Hydrating! 

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